Dark gray, dense metal which can take on a high polish melting point 2227 °C; 4041 °F boiling point 4602 °C; 8316 °F density 13.31 g/cc; 830.92 pounds/cubic foot 1922 Dirk Coster & György Karl von Hevesy, Denmark Hafnia = København (Copenhagen) (Latin) History & Etymology Chemists suspected long time, that Zirconium minerals contained the impurity of some unknown element. Many of them reported the discovery of this element: 1845: The Swedish chemist and mineralogist Lars Fredrik Svanberg (1805-1878) reported the discovery in zircon of this new element, which he named Norium. Ostranium (остраний), 1869: Henry Clifton Sorby discovered Jargonium by spectroscopical analysis. He retracted his claim the following year: the spectrum he had seen was due to impure Zirconium (note) .

1879: Tellef Dahl, inspector of the Norwegian mines, found a new metal in nickel pyrite of Kragerø, in Norway, and named it Norwegium (Ng) (norvégium) after the country in which it was first found (note) . 1911: Nigrium. Euxenium (эвксений). On the basis of the periodic law the Danish chemist Julius Thomsen (1826-1909) showed in 1895 that an element must exist between the rare earths and Tantalum, different from the rare earths and close to Zirconium. The final discovery of Hafnium in the first half of the twentieth century was one of chemistryпїЅs more controversial episodes. In 1911 Georges Urbain, the French chemist and authority on the rare earths, claimed to have isolated the element of atomic number 72 from a sample of rare-earth residues, and named it Celtium (Ct) (note) . It seems very unlikely that this element could have been found in the necessary concentrations along with rare earths.

But, in 1922 Urbain and Alexandre Dauvillier claimed to have X-ray evidence to support the discovery (note) . Around the same time a mineral orthite, found on the Svjatoj Nos peninsula in the Trans-Baykal region, was brought under the attention of the chemists in St. Petersburg. It was supposed that orthite contained one of the most interesting radioactive elements, Thorium. The geochemist Vladimir Ivanovich Vernadskij (Владимир Иванович Вернадский) (1863-1945) charged the analysis of orthite to his student Konstantin Avtonomovich Nenadkevich (Константин Автономович Ненадкевич) (1880-1963). Soon he extracted from orthite the assumed thorium, but they were not confident, that they had isolated Thorium. Nenadkevich determined the atomic weight of the element and it turned out that it was equal to 178, while the atomic weight of Thorium is 232.

In accordance with the periodic law the element in orthite must be found in Mendeleyev's table between Lutecium and Tantalum, thus element #72. Since this was an empty place, Nenadkevich had found a new element, which he named Asium (азием), after Asia, where the mineral was found. Because of the First World War and the following Civil War in Russia, the necessary further confirmation research and publication was delayed. By that time Niels Bohr had developed his atomic theory and so was confident that element 72 would be a member of Group 4 and was more likely to be found along with zirconium than with the rare earths. Working in Bohr's laboratory in Copenhagen in 1922, the Dutchman Dirk Coster (1889-1950) and the Hungarian György Karl von Hevesy (1885-1966) used X-ray spectroscopic analysis to show that element 72 was present in Norwegian zircon.

In November 1922 was announced that the Nobel Prize in Physics for the year 1922 was awarded to Bohr "for his services in the investigation of the structure of atoms and of the radiation emanating from them". Bohr went to Stockholm to receive the prize and would give his Nobel Lecture "The structure of the atom". The day before his presentation, Bohr received a very significant message of Coster and Hevesy which had remained in Copenhagen. They had just highlighted lines which must be from element 72. The Dutchman Coster proposed the name Hafnium (after Copenhagen), and although Bohr preferred the name Danium (after Denmark), he accepted Coster's name. Bohr announced the discovery of Hafnium in his Nobel Lecture: "In these circumstances Dr. Coster and Prof. Hevesy, who are both for the time working in Copenhagen, took up a short time ago the problem of testing a preparation of zircon-bearing minerals by X-ray spectroscopic analysis.

These investigators have been able to establish the existence in the minerals investigated of appreciable quantities of an element with atomic number 72, the chemical properties of which show a great similarity to those of zirconium and a decided difference from those of the rare-earths.*" (note) The note in the published version says: "* For the result of the continued work of Coster and Hevesy with the new element, for which they have proposed the name hafnium, the reader may be referred to their letters in Nature of January 20, February 10 and 24, and April 7." Hafnia Copenhagen (English pronunciation: /ˈkoʊpənˌheɪɡən/); Danish: København (pronounced [kʰøb̥ənˈhaʊ̯ˀn] is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,167,569 (2009) and a metropolitan population of 1,875,179 (2009). Copenhagen is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager.

First documented in the 11th century, Copenhagen became the capital of Denmark in the beginning of the 15th century and during the 17th century under the reign of Christian IV it became an important regional centre. The city's origin as a harbour and a place of commerce is reflected in its name. Its original designation, from which the contemporary Danish name is derived, was Køpmannæhafn, "merchants' harbour". The English name for the city is derived from its Low German name, Kopenhagen (note). The element is named after Copenhagen, because in this town the element was discovered. Copenhagen, or more correct in Danish København, means literally "merchant's harbour". Further reading Mary Elvira Weeks, Discovery of the Elements, comp. rev. by Henry M. Leicester (Easton, Pa.: Journal of Chemical Education, 1968), pp. 820-823. François Gaudreau, Le tableau périodique et la découverte de l'hafnium.

Sherbrooke, Québec (on-line) Eric Scerri, "Prediction of the Nature of Hafnium from Chemistry, Bohr's Theory and Quantum Theory." Annals of Science 51 (1994): 137-150. (on-line) Hafnium - definition of hafnium by The Free Dictionary Hafnium - definition of hafnium by The Free Dictionary Related to hafnium: Hafnium carbide haf·ni·um (hăf′nē-əm) n. Symbol Hf A brilliant, silvery, metallic element separated from ores of zirconium and used in nuclear reactor control rods, as a getter for oxygen and nitrogen, and in tungsten filament alloys. Atomic number 72; atomic weight 178.49; melting point 2,233°C; boiling point 4,603°C; specific gravity 13.31; valence 4. See Periodic Table .

[After Hafnia, Medieval Latin name for Copenhagen, Denmark.] hafnium (ˈhæfnɪəm) n (Elements & Compounds) a bright metallic element found in zirconium ores: used in tungsten filaments and as a neutron absorber in nuclear reactors. Symbol: Hf; atomic no: 72; atomic wt: 178.49; valency: 4; relative density: 13.31; melting pt: 2231±20°C; boiling pt: 4603°C [C20: New Latin, named after Hafnia, Latin name of Copenhagen + -ium] haf•ni•um (ˈhæf ni əm, ˈhɑf-) n. a toxic metallic element found in most zirconium minerals. Symbol: Hf ; at. wt.: 178.49; at. no.: 72; sp. gr.: 12.1.

[1923; < New Latin Hafn(ia) Copenhagen + -ium 2] haf·ni·um (hăf′nē-əm) Symbol Hf A bright, silvery metallic element that occurs in zirconium ores. Because hafnium absorbs neutrons better than any other metal and is resistant to corrosion, it is used to control nuclear reactions. Atomic number 72. See Periodic Table . ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: Hafnium»the essentials [WebElements Periodic Table] Element News Hafnium: the essentials Most zirconium minerals contain 1 to 3% hafnium. Hafnium is a ductile metal with a brilliant silver lustre. Its properties are influenced considerably by the impurities of zirconium present. Of all the elements, zirconium and hafnium are two of the most difficult to separate. Hafnium is a Group 4 transition element.

Because hafnium has a good absorption cross section for thermal neutrons (almost 600 times that of zirconium), has excellent mechanical properties, and is extremely corrosion resistant, it is used for nuclear reactor control rods. Hafnium carbide is the most refractory binary composition known, and the nitride is the most refractory metal nitride (m.p. 3310°C). Hafnium foil. Hafnium: historical information Hafnium was discovered by Dirk Coster and George Charles von Hevesy in 1923 at Denmark. Origin of name : from the Latin name "Hafnia" meaning "Copenhagen". Hafnium was thought to be present in various zirconium minerals many years prior to its discovery, in 1923, which was credited to Dirk Coster and George Charles von Hevesey. It was finally identified in zircon (a zirconium ore) from Norway, by means of X-ray spectroscopic analysis. It was named in honour of the city in which the discovery was made. A number of earlier claims seem less likely.

Most zirconium minerals contain 1 to 3% hafnium and it is their chemical similarity which made their separation difficult. It was originally separated from zirconium by repeated and tedious recrystallization of the double ammonium or potassium fluorides. Hafnium around us Read more » Hafnium has no biological role. Hafnium is never found as the free element in nature. It is found in the ore alvite [(Hf, Th, Zr)SiO4.xH2O] and thortveitite. Most zirconium minerals (zircon, baddelyite) contain 1 to 3% hafnium and in practice most hafnium is produced as a byproduct of zirconium production, presumably because it is necessary to remove the hafnium from the zirconium used in the nuclear industries. Abundances for hafnium in a number of different environments. More abundance data » Location Second ionisation energy : 1440 kJ mol‑1 Isolation Isolation : hafnium extraction is always associated with its removal from zirconium as it is a contaminant of all zirconium minerals.

Solvent extraction methods are used ot spearate the two metals but the process is not easy. These make use of the differential solubilities of the metal thiocyantes (thiocyanate is SCN-) in methyl isobutyl ketone. Hafnium isotopes Read more » Hafnium isotopes have several applications. Hf-180 is used for the production of the radioisotope Hf-181 while Hf-180 is used for the production of the radioisotope Ta-179, which has a medical application. The second isomer of Hf-178 (Hf-178m2) exhibits a very high excitation energy and it has been suggested for use in gamma ray lasers. Elements Named for Places - Element Toponyms Berkelium – University of California at Berkeley Californium – State of California and University of California at Berkeley Copper - probably named for Cyprus Darmstadtium – Darmstadt, Germany Erbium – Ytterby, a town in Sweden Europium – Europe Francium – France Gallium – Gallia, Latin for France.

Also named for Lecoq de Boisbaudran, the element's discoverer (Lecoq in Latin is gallus) Germanium – Germany Hafnium – Hafnia, Latin for Copenhagen Hassium – Hesse, Germany Holmium – Holmia, Latin for Stockholm Lutetium – Lutecia, ancient name for Paris Magnesium – Magnesia prefecture in Thessaly, Greece Rhenium – Rhenus, Latin for Rhine, a German province continue reading below our video 4 Tips for Improving Test Performance Ruthenium – Ruthenia, Latin for Russia Scandium – Scandia, Latin for Scandinavia Strontium – Strontian, a town in Scotland Terbium – Ytterby, Sweden Thulium – Thule, a mythical island in the far north (Scandinavia?) Ytterbium – Ytterby, Sweden Etymologies of element names | PlanetStar Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Etymologies of element names Share Ad blocker interference detected! Wikia is a free-to-use site that makes money from advertising.

We have a modified experience for viewers using ad blockers Wikia is not accessible if you’ve made further modifications. Remove the custom ad blocker rule(s) and the page will load as expected. This is the list of 173 elements discussing their etymologies, including official, proposed, predicted, and made-up names. A subatomic particle neutron , since this element only contains neutron(s) in its nucleus . 1 Hydrogen H From the Latin hydor genes, derived from the Ancient Greek ὕδωρ γείνομαι (hydor geinomai), meaning "to beget water," because water is the most common and important hydrogen compound . 2 From the Greek ἥλιος ( Helios ), meaning " Sun " and also " the god of Sun " in mythology . 3 Lithium Li From the Greek λιθος (lithos), meaning "stone," because this element was discovered from a mineral while other common alkali metals (sodium and potassium) were discovered from plant tissue. 4 Beryllos, denoting " beryl ," which contains beryllium.

5 لاعقشا (buraq), derived from the Persian "بورون" (burah), referring to " borax ." 6 Carbon C From the French charbone, which in turn came from the Latin carbo, meaning "charcoal." (In German and Dutch , kohlenstoff and koolstof, respectively, both literally meaning " coal -stuff"). 7 N From the Latin nitrum genes, derived from the Greek νιτρον γείνομαι (nitron geinomai), meaning "native-soda ( niter ) forming." It is sometimes known as Azotum, which means "Ashdod", the English name of that element, and its symbol is sometimes known as "Az". 8 Oxygen O From the Greek οξύς γείνομαι (oxys geinomai), meaning "acid to bring forth," as he believed it to be an essential component of acids. 9 Fluorspar , one of its compounds.

Fluor is the Latin for "flowing." 10 From the Greek νέος (neos), meaning "new." 11 Sodium Na From the English soda , used in names for sodium compounds such as caustic soda , soda ash , and baking soda . The symbol Na is from the Modern Latin name Natrium, derived from the Greek νιτρον (nítron), meaning "natural soda," a kind of salt. 12 From the Ancient Greek Μαγνήσια ( Magnesia ) (district in Thessaly ), where this element was discovered. 13 From the Latin alum , meaning "bitter salt." 14 From the Latin silex or silicis, meaning " flint ," a kind of stone. 15 Phosphorus P From the Greek φωσ φόρος (phós phoros), meaning "light bearer," because "white phosphorus" emits a faint glow upon exposure to oxygen. Phosphorus was an ancient name for the " planet Venus " as Phosphorus ( Morning Star ).

16 Sulfur S Almost certainly from the Arabic صفرا (sufra), "yellow," the bright color of the naturally occurring form. The word passed into Sanskrit गन्धक (sulvere or sulvari), the Latin "sulpur," the English "sulphur" or "sulfur," and also was commonly referred as "brimstone" in English translations of the Bible . 17 Chlorine Cl From the Greek χλώρος (chlorós), meaning "yellowish green" or "greenish yellow," because of the color of the gas. 18 Means "inactive" in Greek (literally "lazy"). 19 Potassium K From the English potash , meaning "pot-ash" ( potassium compound prepared from an alkali extracted in a pot from the ash of burnt wood or tree leaves). The symbol K is from this elment's Latin name, Kalium, derived from the Arabic القلي (al qalīy), meaning "calcined ashes." 20 Calcium Ca From the Latin calx, meaning "lime." Calcium was known as early as the first century when the Romans prepared lime as calcium oxide .

21 From the Latin Scandia, meaning " Scandinavia ." 22 Titanium Ti From the Greek τιτάν (titan), meaning " Earth ." Also from Titans , the first sons of Gaia in Greek mythology. 23 From Vanadis , a goddess in Scandinavian mythology , because of its beautifully multicolored chemical compounds. 24 From the Greek chroma, meaning " color ," because there are many colorful chromium compounds . 25 From the Latin magnes, meaning "magnet," for Magnetite or its magnetic property. 26 Iron Fe "Iron" (īsern) may derive from the Etruscan aisar, meaning "the god (s)," because the earliest iron to be worked (by the Sumerians and Egyptians , around 4000 BC) was obtained from meteorites , and meteorites fall from the sky. Starting with two letters in this symbol: Fe, the Latin name of this element is Ferrum, meaning "Iron", which is the English name of that element. 27 Cobalt Co From the German kobalt, meaning "evil spirit," the metal being so called by miners, because this element was poisonous and troublesome ( polluted and degraded the other mined elements like nickel).

Other sources cite the origin as stemming from silver miners' belief that cobalt had been placed by " Kobolds " who had stolen the silver. Some also think the name may be derive from the Greek kobalos, meaning "mine," and which may have common roots with kobold, goblin, and cobalt. 28 Nickel Ni From the Swedish kupfernickel, meaning "copper-colored ore"; this referred to the ore niccolite from which this element was obtained. 29 Copper Cu Possibly derived from the Greek χαλκός (chalkos), meaning "copper (the metal)." May also be derived from the Latin (during the Roman empire) aes cyprium, ("aes" being the generic Latin term for copper alloys such as bronze , etc). Cyprium means " Cyprus ," where so much of this element was mined; the name was simplified to cuprum and then eventually anglicized as "copper." 30 Borrowed from a Proto-Indo-European language , and has cognates in several Germanic and Celtic languages . The symbol Sn is from the Latin name Stannum.

51 Antimony Sb Possibly from the Greek αντι μόνος (anti monos), approximately meaning "opposed to solitude," as believed never to exist in pure form, or anti-monachos, (the French antimoine, still has adherents) for "monk-killer," because many early alchemists were monks and antimony is poisonous. May also be derived from the Pharaonic ( Ancient Egypt ), Antos Ammon (expression), which could be translated as "bloom of the god Ammon." The symbol Sb is from Latin name, Stibium. The word derived from the Greek στιμμί (stimmi), probably a loan word from Arabic or Egyptian. Littré suggests the first form derives from stimmida, an accusative of stimmi. The Arabic word for the substance, as "mark" or "the cosmetic," can appear as ithmid, athmoud, othmod or uthmod. 52 Te From the Latin Tellus, meaning " Earth ." Also from Terra Mater , the Roman goddess personifying the Mother Earth . 53 Thule , an ancient Roman name for a mythical country in the far north, perhaps Scandinavia.

70 Ytterbium Yb Ytterbia , the oxide compound of ytterbium . ((Neo-)Ytterbium was named after (Neon, from the Greek νέος (neos), meaning "new", and) Ytterby, the Swedish village near Vaxholm ) where the mineral gadolinite was found.) An alternative, but rejected name is Aldebaranium (Ad), after the red giant star, Aldebaran , located about 68 light years away in the zodiac constellation of Taurus. 71 Lu From the Latin Lutetia, the city of " Paris ." An alternative name is Cassiopium (Cp), after the constellation in the northern sky, Cassiopeia , named after a vain queen ho boasted about her unrivalled beauty. 72 From the Latin Hafnia, meaning " Copenhagen ," the capital of Denmark . 73 Tantalum Ta From the Greek ταντάλυς ( Tantalus ), who was punished after death by being condemned to stand knee-deep in water, if he bent to drink water, it drained below the level he could reach (in Greek mythology ).

This was considered similar to tantalum's general non-reactivity because of its inertness (it sits among reagents and is unaffected by them). 74 Tungsten W From the Swedish and Danish languages tung sten, meaning "heavy stone." The symbol W is from scientific name Wolfram. The element and its ore Wolframite , was named in honor of " Peter Woulfe ," who discovered its existence. The names Wolfram or Volfram are still used in Swedish and several languages. 75 Honoring Ernest Rutherford , who pioneered the Bohr model of the atom and discovered the atomic nucleus . An alternative, but rejected name is Kurchatovium (Ku), honoring Igor Vasilevich Kurchatov , who shared fundamental understanding of the uranium chain reaction and the nuclear reactor. 105 Db Dubna , a town in Russia where this element was synthesized (in the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research). Two alternative, but rejected names are Hahnium (Ha) and Joliotium (Jl), honoring Otto Hahn , who shared the discovery of nuclear fission with Fritz Strassmann and Lise Meitner. He also discovered numerous radioactive elements, and Frédéric Joliot-Curie .

106 Seaborgium Sg Honoring Glenn T. Seaborg , who synthesized the chemistry of the transuranium elements , shared discoveries and isolated 10 elements, developed and proposed the actinide series . 107 Many other languages the name of the element is derived from "water", such as: German: Wasser = water, and Stoff = material. Dutch: water = water, and stof = material. Slavic languages: voda = water. Lithuanian: vanduo = water. Japanese: 水 = Chinese character for water and 素 "so" (elementary, principle, naked, or uncovered). In contrary, the Danish brint is derived from the verb "brænde" = burn. The name was coined by the Danish scientist H. C. Ørsted in the early 19th century. Nowadays, in strictly scientific contexts, chemists use the international word hydrogen, oxygen, but brint is used for everyday purposes and in many technical contexts. Isotopes The three isotopes of Hydrogen, have got own names from Harold C. Urey, F. G. Brickwedde, and G. M.

Murphy, of Columbia University (H.C.U. and G.M.M.) and the Bureau of Standards (F.G.B.): 1H is Protium, mass number of 1 and has a single proton in the nucleus. The name is derived from the Greek πρωτος [prōtos] = the first. 2H is Deuterium, symbol D, mass number of 2, and has one proton and one neutron in the nucleus. The name is derived from the Greek δευτερος [deuteros] = the second. In England the name Diplogenium (from the Greek διπλους [diplous] = double] was used, also with symbol D. 3H is Tritium, symbol T, mass number of 3, and has one proton and two neutrons in its nucleus. The name is derived from the Greek τριτος [tritos] = the third. Harold Clayton Urey (1893-1981; biography ) discovered the heavy hydrogen isotopes in the 1930s.

In 1931 he demonstrated the existence of the hydrogen isotope of atomic weight two, one with weight three was supposed but not yet revealed. For his discovery of heavy hydrogen Urey was awarded the Nobel prize of chemistry in 1934. The discovery of H2 (Deuterium) was announced by Harold C. Urey, F.G. Brickwedde, and G. M. Murphy in the Physical Review of 1 January 1932 (note) . A more comprehensive article appeared in the April issue of that journal (note) . They did not give a name to the newly discovered isotope, not for the isotope H3 which they predicted. About a year later they suggested the names Protium, Deuterium, and Tritium in a letter to the editor, "A Name and Symbol for H2", of the Journal of Chemical Physics, published in February 1933 (note) . However, in a later radio talk, Urey used mostly the terms "hydrogen one" and "hydrogen one", as they had been referred to among scientists (note) .

The February 1933 proposal initiated a discussion in Science, unequalled by any other proposal of element names: 8 Dec. 1933: R.W. Wood, John Hopkins University, "Suggested Nomenclature for Heavy Hydrogen and its Compounds" (note) . The name deuterium would complicate the matter, for it suggest a new element instead of an isotope. He suggests to speak of bar-hydrogen and to write Ħydrogen, symbol Ħ (Ħ should be a H with a bar above, I am glad Wood's suggestion did not make it since that symbol is not on a keyboard). 29 Dec. 1933: Harold C. Urey; F. G. Brickwedde; G. M. Murphy, "Names for the Hydrogen Isotopes" (note) . In their reaction on Wood's letter, Urey, Brickwedde and Murphy wrote that "(we) considered exactly this name and symbol before we published the suggestion of the name deuterium for the heavy isotope, and protium for the light isotope." It was because of the difficulty of naming the compounds that they discarded that name and symbol.

On Wood's objection that it seemed a new element, they wrote that after discussions with organic chemists it appeared almost necessary to name some of the compounds with H2 as though it was a foreign element. 29 Dec. 1933: Frank C. Whitmore, Pennsylvania State College, "Suggested Nomenclature for Heavy Hydrogen and its Compounds" (note) . 9 Febr. 1934: William D. Harkins, University of Chicago, "Nomenclature for the Isotopes of Hydrogen (Proto- and Deuto-Hydrogen) and Their Compounds" (note) . The fundamental difficulty of the nomenclature suggested by Urey c.s. and Wood was that "it specifies an atomic species by a single name, while by any simple numerical system two independent variables are involved." These two variables are the atomic number and the isotopic number. Because there were at Harkins' time 91 elements known, and some of them with 11 isotopes, any system of individual names, without reference to which element it belongs, is confusing. Harkins finds a solution in a system where the names have a relation to numerical designations.

He takes hydrogen as an example: the element of atomic weight 1 is represented by (1,-1), in which 1 is the atomic and -1 the isotopic number. The symbol than is H-1 (he preferred H with a superscript 1 with a dash above, which I can not reproduce in html). The name should be Protohydrogen. Hydrogen of atomic weight 2, represented by (1,0) is H0 or Deutohydrogen (the more correct form Deuterohydrogen he considered too long). Hydrogen with atomic weight 3 would ne named Tritohydrogen. He also had heard of Rutherford's name diplogen (from διπλους [diplous] = double). This name should be only acceptable for H2 when H1 is named Haplogen or Haplohydrogen (from απλους [haplous] = single). 9 Febr. 1934: J.B. Ficklen, Hartford, Conn., "Isotopic Nomenclature" (note) . In the same issue of Science J.B.

Ficklen wrote that as isotopes with mass 1 and 2 are named "protinium" (Ficklen's error?) and "deuterium" respectively, an isotope with mass 86 would be named "hakloskyhogdoekostium (εκτος και ογδοηκοστός)", and it would be unclear if it is an isotope of Strontium or of Krypton [Ficklen made his point, but his Greek was not so good: firstly, the transcription should have been hektosky-ogdoekostium, and further, 86 in Greek is ογδο(η)κοστα εξι, giving an isotope name as "ogdokosta-hexium"]. 16 Febr. 1934: Willis A. Boughton, Chemical Laboratories, Harvard University, "Naming Hydrogen Isotopes" (note) . A much simpler form suggested: Hydrogen-p and Hydrogen-d with symbols Hp and Hd for Protium and Deuterium respectively.

2 March 1934: Ross Aiken Gortner, University of Minnesota, "A Suggestion Regarding the Chemical Formulae of Compounds Containing Hydrogen and Oxygen Isotopes" (note) . Gortner agreed with the names Protium, Deuterium and Trition, but not with the suggested symbols Pm and D (and probably Tr). Since Deuterium is referred to as "heavy hydrogen" its symbol should be a bold-faced letter H, and if H3 -Tritium- is ever produced, its symbol can be a bold-faced Old English letter H (Science did not have this font, and thus printed simply H). 9 March 1934: Robert S. Mulliken, "Symbols and Names for the Hydrogen Isotopes" (note) . Muliken started to described the discussion as one between conflicting ideals: maximum brevity, simplicity, and euphony, maximum explicitness, completeness and consistency, principle that well-established nomenclature should not be too hastily set aside; and, if is replaced, the new nomenclature should not contain old names with new meanings. He suggested to name isotopes like plants and animals.

"We speak of Quercus alba and Q. rubra; why not Hydrogenium protium and Hydrogenium deuterium as complete systematic names for the hydrogen isotopes?" For the symbols of H. protium and H. deuterium he discusses several possibilities: a single letter (ideal a, but not b) or Hp and Hd look to much to new elements; better is Hp and Hd, or simpler Hπ and Hδ, but finally preferred the more simpler form as Π and Δ. The use of Greek letters makes it clear it are symbols for isotopes, not elements, thus it not violates ideal b. Finally, he recommended the names hydrogen (H), (hydro)protium (Π) and (hydro)diplium (Δ), for the latter he follows Rutherford's name "diplon" for the H2-particle, but adds that there is no sufficient reason to give ip [(hydro)]deuterium (in a note, he adds that also the meaningless name delton for the particle - and (hydro)deltium for the isotope - would not be unpleasant). 23 March 1934: C. E.

Waters, Washington, D.C., "The Case of Deuterium" (note) . The whole discussion among chemists is ridiculous in the eyes of zoologists and botanists. These sciences observe the rule of priority: the name first given to a new animal or plant shall be accepted. "This simple principle (...) is either unknown to chemists or is ignored by them." Waters did not admire the name deuterium, and would not select it for his scientific child, but had not bothered to think up another, better of worse. He refers to older discoveries which led not to any discussion, Hevesy named the new element "Hafnium" after the old Latin name of his town, but he could have chosen for the modern name "Copenhagenium", this would have been quite a strain. Just as Hevesy, Urey and his colleagues would have had the right to name the new isotope "newyorkium" (since "columbium" in already used in the USA), or, just as Hevesy took the old name "eboracum" [should have been "novum-eboracum", PvdK).

Concerning the symbol, Waters found Gortner's suggestion for a bold H a problem for the typist and the lecturer writing it on a blackboard. For their sake, "one can almost wish that tritium will not be discovered, because Old English letters are bad enough when they are printed." 1 June 1934: Terminologist, "Terminology of Isotopes" (note) . The chemist (?) using the pseudonym Terminologist suggested to give to each isotope an alphabetic letter in the order of the abundance. Deuterium then would be b-hydrogen, but may have as an exception a distinct name because it shows the greatest physical difference for an isotope. In Crane's report (see next) Terminologist's names are slightly adjusted to hydrogen-a and hydrogen-b and given the symbols Ha and Hb. 27 July 1934: E. J. Crane, "Nomenclature of the Hydrogen Isotopes and Their Compounds" (note) . Finally, the question was studied by the Nomenclature, Spelling and Pronunciation Committee of the American Chemical Society. The committee's chairman Crane reported in an article in Science.

Concerning the names of isotopes, the committee followed the choice of the discoverers, Protium and Deuterium (they did not want to say anything on Tritium until it was discovered). Concerning the symbols, the members of the committee were divided, on third liked H and H2, one third H and D, and the other third Hd (which they found better than Hd, see Muliken) and Hb (see Terminologist). In a review of the discovery, Hugh S. Taylor discusses the christening of the isotopes in the Scientific Monthly of October 1934 (note) : Shortly after the isolation was accomplished, Urey, Brickwedde and Murphy christened the isotopes (note) ; hitherto this had not been necessary with isotopes since there had been no chemistry of separate isotopes to be considered. The discoverers of heavy hydrogen suggested, for hydrogen of mass 1, the name protium, since this would conform with current usage of the name proton for the nucleus of the hydrogen atom.

For the isotope of mass two they proposed the name deuterium, which, for the nucleus of this atom, suggests deuteron, or, more briefly, deuton, the nucleus of mass 2 and unit positive charge. They also suggested that, if the isotope of mass 3 were discovered, the name tritium might be considered. These names have found general acceptance, except in England, where, following a suggestion from Lord Rutherford's laboratory, the name "diplogen" has been employed. The best excuse for this latter is that it gives "diplon" instead of deuton, which latter does not find favor with the English scientists who, with colds in their heads in winter time, may confuse deuton with the "neutron" the particle of mass 1 and zero charge. Considerable discussion has arisen as to the symbols to be employed. Previous custom has sanctioned H1, H2 and H3 for the symbolic representation. There is, however, an increasing use of H for H1, of D for H2 and of T for H3.

Fortunately, D and T have not hitherto been used as symbols for any elements; also, D stands, equally well in England and elsewhere, for both, deuterium and diplogen. Further history shows that chemist do follow the rule of priority, as wished by Waters: despite all the suggestions, better or worse, the isotopes are still known under the names given to them by the discoverers! Even, when Tritium was synthesized by Ernest Rutherford, Marcus L.E. Oliphant, and Paul Harteck in 1935, the name suggested by the discoverers of Deuterium was already so common, that probably no other name came into consideration. Names for Hydrogen species Transfer of cation to substrate hydronation HYDROGEN, the chief Stellar element, The lightest body known in Creation, Is a colourless, odourless, and tasteless Metalloid, existing in a gaseous Or aeriform condition. No pressure We know as yet will liquify this gas; It is easily enkindled, evolving Great heat, but little light with pale yellowish flame And formation of Water whilst burning in Air.

The flame from Hydrogen-jet is excellent For sound experiments; with long glass tube The vibrations produce a musical tone. The Human Element | June 24, 2013 Issue - Vol. 91 Issue 25 | Chemical & Engineering News A Tale of Seven Elements: by Eric Scerri, Oxford University Press, 2013, 304 pages, $19.95 softcover (ISBN: 978-0-19-539131-2) A Tale of Seven Elements: by Eric Scerri, Oxford University Press, 2013, 304 pages, $19.95 softcover (ISBN: 978-0-19-539131-2) Scerri devotes the first quarter of the book to the history of the periodic table from its invention, through the evolutions in its organization, to what he calls the invasion of physics. The discovery of electrons, isotopes, and quantum theory by physicists clarified and affirmed the way chemists had arranged the elements.

Much of this section seems distilled from Scerri’s earlier book “ The Periodic Table: A Very Short Introduction ,” which would be an excellent place to go next if you’re intrigued by the ideas here. Beginning with Mendeleev’s periodic table, usually thought of as the first, Scerri is quick to show how history can either sanitize or clarify what really happened. In fact, scientists like Emile de Chancourtois, William Odling, and Julius Lothar Meyer can all claim to have invented a periodic system during the mid-1800s, although Scerri makes clear that some were better than others. Nonetheless, he explains that Mendeleev’s fame is based as much on circumstances as on the validity of his table and his predictions for undiscovered elements. Chemists of the time looked down on de Chancourtois, for instance, because he was trained as a geologist. Even still, his ideas might have caught on if the journal he published his seminal paper in had included the diagram of the cylindrical periodic system he had devised. Scerri unpacks these dramatic periods for his reader to show both how it happened and how they came to be remembered as they are.

After this condensed lesson on the periodic table, Scerri spends the rest of the book on the titular seven elements, each with its own chapter in the order of their discoveries. Like the book’s first quarter, these chapters are broken up into shorter sections that deal with a particular individual or event. Scerri works hard to expose all the complexity of discovering a single element, and unfortunately there are places where that muddle pollutes the text, making the narrative disjointed and a little confusing. I wish Scerri had had twice as many pages to tell this tale. Despite that, these are fascinating stories. The common response to the complaint “chemistry is boring” is an exploding balloon of hydrogen or something similar, but the human element that Scerri describes is much more interesting. Take the controversy over element 72, now called hafnium, which Scerri calls “one of the most bitter and acrimonious priority disputes in the twentieth century.” Element 72 was among those predicted by Mendeleev, in the form of a blank space in his original 1869 table.

In 1911, a French chemist and expert on rare-earth metals named Georges Urbain announced he had isolated the element, which he called celtium. A newly developed X-ray method gave conflicting results about the veracity of his claim. Meanwhile, the physicist Niels Bohr declared on the basis of atomic theory that 72 should not be a rare earth at all. In 1922, two researchers at his institute in Copenhagen, Dirk Coster and Georg Hevesy, used the same X-ray method to declare they had found the element and to discredit Urbain on the basis of Bohr’s reasoning. With Europe just emerging from the shadow of World War I, their paper set off a nasty battle of words. French and English scientists sided with Urbain out of nationalistic loyalty, and each side referred to the element by their own name. After accusations of plagiarism and some maneuvering by Urbain and company, Coster and Hevesy prevailed and element 72 is called hafnium after the Latin name for Denmark. The flip side of that example is something like mendelevium, which is not one of the seven elements but shows up in the last chapter on the synthetic transuranium elements.

Produced at the University of California, Berkeley, during the Cold War, its creators named it after Mendeleev, a Russian, in a rare moment of friendship between the hostile nations. One nice touch is an explanation of the modern uses for each of the seven elements. The compound rhenium boride is hard enough to cut diamond, for instance, whereas technetium is used for medical imaging. The sections provide useful reference points for readers who feel like the subject matter is a little too abstract. Priority disputes like the one over hafnium were the rule, not the exception, for Scerri’s seven elements, and some were even lengthier and more complex. And at their root are men and women—many women, in fact, whom Scerri very admirably champions—whose virtues and failings have as much to do with the periodic table we know as they do with X-ray spectrometers and cyclotrons. In his introduction, Scerri writes that the conflicts over priority “are revealing of the often frail humanity of the scientists involved or perhaps of the scientific method as a whole and the pressures which it often places on scientists.” “A Tale of Seven Elements” reveals that conscientiously and fully.

Question: After the Latin name for which modern European capital is the element Hafnium named?
Answer: Copenhagen